McIlroy eager to cut out the mistakes before his Masters challenge

RORY McILROY is determined to cut out the mistakes before the Masters after setting a new career best in birdies made at the Zozo Championship. The Holywood man has failed to recapture his pre-lockdown form since golf resumed in June, but he showed signs of being able to end 2020 on a high with a remarkable 29 birdies over 72 holes at Sherwood Country Club in California. ‘It would have been nice to hole that birdie putt at the last, I would have made 30 birdies for the week,’ McIlroy, 31, said after finishing tied for 17th behind the winner, American Patrick Cantlay. ‘So I made 29, which is more than enough to win golf tournaments, I just need to cut out the mistakes.’ McIlroy would become only the sixth player to complete golf ’s ‘Grand Slam’ of all four modern majors if he can win the rescheduled 2020 Masters at Augusta on November 12. However, the errors that led to eight bogeys and three doublebogeys and saw him finish eight shots off the pace at the Zozo Championship must be removed from his game. ‘Just limiting the mistakes more than anything else,’ McIlroy told Sky Sports when asked what he will be working on ahead of the Masters. ‘I don’t think it’s anything technical. I’ve sort of compounded errors this week a little bit, and last week as well. ‘I had a really bad run at the end of the tournament to go from the top 10 to outside the top 20. ‘I’m maybe just being a touch aggressive when I get myself out of position. ‘So just taking my medicine a little bit more when I do. That was sort of the story of the week. ‘I’ve played tournaments where I feel like all I can do is make pars. But at the end of the day, that’s not what’s going to give you chances to win tournaments.’